Israel’s true friends should tell
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Long time we expect Israel's true friends to tell truth. Instead true friends tell many small lies. Many small lies create one big twisted picture. Then true friends are surprised their vision differs from the world outside.
This friendly article is full of small and big lies, too many to go over all. Let look on some of them.
The interesting region map. There are no "1967 borders". Lie. Only ceasefire lines. Many readers wrote about it many times in comments before. Even if Economist's editor was ignorant he/she is expected to read some of the comments some of the time.
If 1967 is mentioned on the map, the West bank belonged to Jordan and the Gaza strip to Egypt. Both should be painted accordingly. Instead these territories are painted to the unclear color as landed
from the moon. Lie
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E-1, ... impeding connections to the rest of the fledgling state of Palestine ... Travel from Bethlehem, south of Jerusalem, to Ramallah, the Palestinians’ administrative headquarters, would be a nightmare.
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Hello, look on your article map. There is no connection between Gaza and West bank. How about travelling from Gaza to Ramallah? Is this not an "obstacle to the peace" why E1 is? Lie.
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moderate Palestinians of Fatah
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Lie. Fatah fired rockets from Gaza in one line with Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Fatah "moderate" Palestinians do not recognize the "Jewish state". There is no difference in the Fatah and Hamas goals, only in the way.
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The Arab population is growing faster than the Jewish one
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One big lie. In Israel and the West bank the Arab population birth rate decreases constantly. Arabs immigrate, specially the Christian Arabs from the West bank under the pressure of Muslims. Obama should speak loudly about this.
Or do you mean the Arab population of Gaza, Egypt, Yemen? What about Arab population of France, Germany Britain? It is also growing fast. By the end of 21 century Germans will be minority in the Germany. Will we see two German states?

It is sad to see so much anti-Israeli retoric. People who blow themselves up on busses, specifically target civilians and use their own children as human shields have the world's sympathy, while those who do whatever is necessary to protect their children are called aggressors. I blame the one-sided news coverage by this newspaper, BBC,CNN and the majority of the media. You are giving to the islamic world the rope, on which they will hang you one day.

This the key issue in this moment.
The only mean to freeze the American unconditional flow of money to Israel.
Israeli are very sensitive to money by nature.

Mr Netanyahu is actually blackmailing Mr Obama, just at the beginning of the new Obama's term, when he has many other American priorities to fix.
Mr Netanyahu is making harder than necessary this killing, which he calls war, a war against civilians trapped in the Gaza concentration camp.
A war crime! In the complete indifference of all the so called civil world.
Mr Netanyahu is also doing so his free electoral campaign, and the civil world say nothing.

It is therefore not only Mr Obama which should speak, but all the civil world should make his job reporting to the Hague Court the open Israeli war crimes.
Hops, but America does not recognize the Hague Court, so all other so called civil countries are in stand by, or, better said, they joust look to the moon and not to the murdered Palestinian people.
In addition, the UN Council will be a paper tiger until the Veto right will be still valid rule, after 60 year from the II world war, while the world geopolitics is completely changed, but the UN ambassadors care more to their own chair, being silent.
Hypocrisy is the master road of all counties and also this paper should honestly admit that.

Israelis are sensitive to money by nature? and you are not? Isn't that a bit antisemitic?
And by the way, how much money does USA give to Egypt and the Palestinian Authority? How about we stop that too?

We the West pour blood and treasure to keep your colonial experiment thriving and just think that you should end it and return to New York and the Ukraine. Or perhaps the Germans should give you a bit of their land seeing as they executed thousands of your people.

PLEASE DESCRIBE THE 'BLOOD AND TREASURE '.
Dont forget the million plus Jews ETHNICALLY CLEANSED from the Arab/muslim lands in a wave of ANTISEMITISM that swept these areas before and after 1948.
These Jews were expelled/forced to flee from these Arab/Muslim lands leaving all their property , possessions and thousands of years of community and culture behind.
They were not Zionists.
If they were, they would have sold their assets, and then gone to Israel with some money.
But they arrived in Israel destitute and penniless.
There have always been Jews in the area of Israel, despite being constantly murdered and exiled by wave after wave of invaders.
And yes the Arabs did invade from the Arabian Peninsular.
And yes Jesus was a Jew, as was almost everyone else in the area, but for the Romans.

Return to New York? Do you think that Jews are historically from New York? That's not completely out of touch with factual information. Just because there is a significant number of Jews who live in New York it does not make that their historic home. Israel is a democracy saturated with Western values in an area that opposes the West. That is what this is all about, Sharia Law conflicts with Western ideals. Not to mention the religion of Islam in its history has captured land, destroyed past historical and religious sites, and then builds on top of them to erase the history. Please educate yourself, you are embarrassing those of us from the "West".

Of course you object, you are a jew. You think you have a right to the all the funds and the miniscule amount America gives to the refugees is too much. You probably feel you should get that too. Sorry izzy, the times they are a changing. Your people are losing sympathy the world over because of the evil actions of your people towards the Palestinians in their own land. Your bleating about supposed German transgressions during WWII are also becoming rather boring and ignorable. Realize that the times have changed and anger is building...

Nice to see The Economist to show some back-bone.With this endless brutality,arrogance and no respect to the rule of law Israel has been doing a very good job of setting up its own eventual annihilation.I do not believe that Mr Netanyahu and his cronies know the meaning of "PEACE".On the one hand he claims to wanting peace and the next minute continues on grabbing/stealing Palestinian territories.Israel's Zionist regime is purely run with hate towards all its neighbors and it is running out of time to make amends.It is virtually in a state of isolation but the Zionist regime is too blind to see this.Please USA stop bowing to all cruel and unjust Israeli demands.

Why on earth would Israel change tack? They have clearly won. Surrounded by enemies in a state of perpetual war in which they suffer minimal casualties yet consistently gain territory. The country could never have survived without American financing due to the concentration of violent religious zealots inhabiting the region and they rightly have the continued support of the West in terms of guaranteeing their continued existence, as such there is no incentive in the west to treat them the same as any other group of religious zealots who are a threat to peace and stability in the region. This is where Israel misunderstands criticism from the USA and EU. We are your friends. We are your allies. But, absent the religious zealotry prevalent across the middle east (i'm talking about Arabs and Jews here) we also have friends on the other side. We criticize them for their threats to stability in the region. Israel also constitutes a threat to peace. We have nothing left but the simple moral argument and our message is the same to all sides. This violence is unacceptable. You cannot go on like this. We are no longer interested in hearing about the injustices of the other side. Arab or Jew, we're talking to you. This has to stop now. So sort it out.

If Israel has "won" anything, then Israel has won a future where their children get murdered on the streets by Islamic extremists because of the many wrongs that their government committed to achieve this future. If this can ever be claimed to be a victory, it is a highly Pyrrhic one, to say the least.

Pyrrhic to the civilians, yes. The state of perpetual war is useful to their leaders however, as it gives their dogma legitimacy. particularly when their side receives such a small number of the casualties. Take a gander at the ancient game of 'Go'. When the board looks like that, you've won. Eventually, however they are running the risk that one day something truly terrible will happen and millions could die. This is why it has to stop now, because neither side can take a moral high ground. It is just simply unacceptable that this conflict should be allowed to continue. I don't know how the west can make this ultimatum without further bloodshed though.

Two weeks ago Israel got the worldwide sympathy and support standing against barbarian rocket attack from Gaza. Two weeks later Israel is very lonely.
I think this psychotic behavior of the world community says more about the world than about Israel. the pattern is clear, if we remember that Jews got the most sympathy in 1945-46, when the world needed to bury 6 million Jewish bodies. We find the world likes Jews, when they die.
So I prefer not to be loved and live. You can eat your hat

Dear,
Fifth generation of Jews is born on this land. Why should they return to the Poland or Florida?
And if you mentioned Palestinians. do you really know the difference between Palestinians and Jordanians? Palestinians and Lebanese? Do you know that two generations ago many of these "Palestinians" lived in Syria or Egypt?
Give me the sympathy, I will give knowledge. The usual trade Jews do with the world.

1. At least I can make an argument.
2. Can't find the "snotty and racist ethnocentric superiority complex" in my words. Please point out.
3. Stereotypes exist. It is called also "cultural diversity". There is even a science called Anthropology, which study "stereotypes" among human beings.

Yes, this is what I call a "psychotic behavior". To feel sympathy for victims judging by 30 seconds news item. Without understanding the background and the context.
Like to see in the news a puny man dragged by two husky men and momentarily cry for the poor puny guy. Some interest may discover that a serial killer was arrested by a special police squad.

You are right. The immediate reaction is natural. However I expect the person will understand that the reaction is caused by 30 seconds news, will be ready to learn more on the subject and even to change the opinion when more facts are known.
But Israel and the Middle East context is well known to the diplomats, politicians and reporters. One may love and respect Israel, like Canada. One may hate Israel like Iran. It is completely OK, this is a position on the international scene. To love and support Israel one week but to hate and condemn next week is unreasonable and psychotic.

RARELY has Israel looked lonelier.
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I like this expression "lonelier" since Economist published the article "Even more lonelier". Egyptian mob stormed the Israeli embassy, Economist accused Israel and declared that Israel is even more lonelier.
Since then mob several times stormed the Presidential Palace, streets are burning, tens dead in the street fights, hundreds wounded. Tens thousands dead in Syria, not much property remained to burn. But Egypt and Syria are not lonely, they are burning together with the rest Middle East. Only Israel stands still and lonely as a beautiful flower in the burned desert.
We are proud of Israel

Israel has to reject enemies out of their actual territory which is, unlike Iran and most Arab states, very limited.If the flames of war were igniting inside Israel,with thousands of misiles bombing, whomever the final triumph would belong to, Israel's temporal prosperation would vanish into thin air. So the Israel has to enlarge their land, at least creats more buffering lands.

Rather mundane and predictable article.
The UN does not rank very highly in Israel because its inbuilt anti-Israel majority has created a sense that, irrespective of right or wrong, Israel will always be voted into the wrong. Never forget the evil Zionism=Racism vote, and all those honourable members who voted for it.
It also seems to have taken the Arab/Muslim world 65 years to accept the 1947 Partition Plan.
Now we have to see how long it takes them to accept Israel and actually talk of a meaningful peace. Not just a cessation of hostilities (a Hudna I think it is called), but a real peace.
Israel has been talking of developing the area E1 for over 20 years,
and the hysterical reaction is the same every time.
The solution to this issue is the Refugees .
The Palestinian refugees.
And the Jewish refugees.
The million plus Jews who were forced to flee/expelled (ETHNICALLY CLEANSED) from the Arab/Muslim lands by the wave of Antisemitism that swept these areas before and after 1948.
The Palestinians want to return to pre-1948 areas in the knowledge that the demographics will ensure that Israel will be eliminated.
That is not peace.
And the Jewish refugees will certainly not want to return to their uncertain second class existance in the Arab/Muslim lands.

You are so unbalanced when it comes to Israel that you have no credibly whatsoever. Your atavic antisemitsm oozes from every word you write and when I see the comments of your readers it is another confirmation of what I am saying. You have become a propagandist press and as such you are doomed.

The zionist propaganda has well-organized the confusion between the two words ANTISEMIT and ANTIZIONIST (or anti israeli government, in a more retricted case) – this is pathetic !
The trick can only work for the masses with low education or the most candid people. Please spare us that !
The zionist propaganda is still trying to perpetuate this confusion is relayed through candid medias and zelots (Massada fanatism rings a bell ? Islamists have a fierce competition) on internet, as a skillfull campaign or not even aware of the issues.
Nearly all jews in XIXth century were ANTIzionists (for social reasons AND religious ones).
Before zionist manipulation of the Bible in the 1890s and 1920s - stricken by Nationalism contagion from european Nations - jewish religious leaders (grand rabbis) understood the metaphysical difference between celestial Jerusalem ans and terrestrial Jerusalem, a mere spot of earth. Traditional jewish religious leaders were ANTI-zionists in the XIX th century.
Plus they were intelligent enough to understand in advance the human nightmare zionist claims would create around the old (small)kingdoms of Israel and Judah !

Poor jew. Cry me a river. Now you are blaming the entire world for a few ovens run by a few Germans?

Get over it; we have. We simply don't care about ancient history and your never ending bleating about it and usie of it as justification fo rthe holocaust that has been purpetrated on the Palestinians by jews for the past 65 years.

Firstly, This was my reply to the Flabb's assertion as to the wisdom of the Rabbis in their refusal to go along with Zionism during the 19th century.
Secondly, You pompous A#%&^@%^%D!, The Holocaust may be some event that YOU put in the background. It didn't happen in ancient times IT HAPPENED IN OUR TIME and it is not a trifle matter. It did not happen to your ilk, so you conveniently "got over it", how touching. You don't know the meaning of the concept of holocaust so don't dare mention it as a palestinian affliction. Morons like you are the ones contributing to this magazine, that why it's so pitiful. Maybe if the so called palistinans had a holocaust of their own ,there wont be a discussion about "palestine" on this board.

The extremist Jews, the Jewistas, do not care for the rest of the world's opinions as long as they have the Anglos of the US in their pocket. You can already see how they are laying the groundwork for war, when they will scurry behind America to hide.

The decision by Netanyahu to build more houses in a very sensitive area is just another example of the Israeli government's hardline approach and unwillingness to show anything but aggression to the Palestinians.
It is deliberate, provocative, and designed to perpetuate the divisions.
When will we wake up to the reality that Israel is not served by peace. That would force them to make concessions. They do not want peace. Everything they have done in the last 75 years proves it.
Like the apartheid government of South Africa of the 1980's, it's time for the world to exert maximum pressure and force the changes. Europe is headed that way, and the US needs to come to the party with tough action.
Or this will go on for another 75 years.

Not clear that Mr. Obama should be engaged. Rather like a spoiled child, Mr. NetanYAHOO thrives on tantrum and attention. You're making one mistake which is to assume that the United States is somehow a friend (or a parent) of Israel. In reality, the United States is neither. Israel was a tool to keep us engaged in the ME when we had no direct legitimacy there. At this point, Israel is more a liability than a useful partner there. Its embarrassing actions is causing us to distant ourselves--rather like a drunken date you have some responsibilities toward but wish she would just leave. Mr. Obama should do nothing. It is Mr. NetanYAHOO who forgot that Israel exist at the good graces of the United States. Israel is not in any existential crisis. Its problems are of its own making. Let it dig its own ditch. It is grown up now. Israel will not change because of Mr. Obama. Israel will change when Israelis realize that Mr. NetanYAHOO is taking them down the path of apartheid. Much like S. Africa eventually changed on its own, so too will Israel.

It is only a matter of time until Israel will come in full collusion with the "free world".That because Israel doesn't belong to this camp.The managed to disguised into a democracy but not even the same with others democracies from the West (although also these have many spoils)but invented a special one:"a Jewish democracy".In this "democracy"the main rule is that hte country is not for all citizens,that mean that 1.5 million Arab are second hand citizens.There is not a sign that Israeli people will change its preference for confrontation with the Arabs with an Iron hand (Jabotinsky doctrine).Because this confrontation becomes harder then also the politicians who are demanded to lead are more and more harder,fanatics ready to confront all the world because only them possess the truth.Bibi,the demagogue tricker will become a "leftist"-how Olmert,Livni,Sharon became)in comparison with who will fellow:Lieberman,Feiglin and so on.

At this stage with the devolution of huge numbers of israelis and arabs into religious fundamentalism, and the permanent hate the one solution all would desire - a civil society that embraces both cultures - is impossible. The partition as it is and will be is a bantustan of astounding unjust proportions.
Plus the nightmare of an eternal war on terror and a robotic arms race and vigilante worldwide state.
So the only REAL solution to neofascist israel and yihad is a massive UNO operations from Irak into the occupied territories till the wall and the donation of all those luxury homes with water to the palestinians, the demotion of the wall and the return manu militari to the green line.
This is longer overdue and only the financial control of jewish banksters on american politics has prevented it. But the longer we delay a solution like in the 30s with the rise of hitler, the closer we will walk into a genocide of palestinianswww.economicstruth.com

If you really believe that there is a difference between one Israeli ruler and another, you need help. The only difference between them lies in their ability to manipulate the Western media (and opinion); they are just as bloodthirsty as each other. And the status quo is precisely what Israeli society wants (and I'm basing this on their own constant reminder to the rest of us that they are a democracy), as evidenced by how they vote. It was the same in apartheid S.Africa, and indeed, in Nazi Germany where Hitler enjoyed enormous popular support. Thus, perhaps we should rest assured that modern Israel is not unique in this regard. They're guided by what Hannah Arendt called "the banality of evil."

Extemelly Antisemetic post (yes I mean it).
Always comparing Israel to South Africa and Nazi Germany.
All citizens of Israel(not the disputed territories) have full rights. Thats Jews, Arabs, Muslims, Christians and all other minorities.
In South Africa only 20% had any rights. The rest had none.
In Germany, Hitler was elected by less than 35% of the electorate, and then he removed democracy from the Germans and replaced it by Nazism .
Please try a bit of OBJECTIVITY to your posts, and also a little
historical fact.

The anti-Semitism slur wasn't long in coming, was it? But you're aiming it at the wrong person this time, because it no longer has any meaning to me, thanks to people like you who have made it so through incessant abuse. Save it for those who still care about its meaning, therefore.

As for S.Africa, you obviously know more about the place than Desmond Tutu and Mandela, both of whom consider Israel's policies to be worse than what their people experienced. At any rate, at least the S.Africans didn't declare their country a "whites only" republic, unlike Israel, which considers itself a Jewish state (thus consigning everyone else to second-class status).

On Hitler, whatever you might say about the manner in which he came to power, you'd be deluding yourself if you believe that the overwhelming popular support he had owed much to Dr Goebbels' evil genius.

Sorry,you are wrong.I don't need any help because I am an optimist and a strong believer of peaceful co existence of people practicing different faiths side by side.The faith I practice also says so.Jews do not need to manipulate the western media.Because most of the western media are owned by the Jewish people.Israel is not a true democracy.It is a terrorist state.The state of Israel will continue to be disdained by the peace loving people of the world till the Israeli warmongers agree to live side by side with a viable Palestinian state equally powerful in all respect.Netanyahu's departure from power may restart the peace process within a very short time.It is now up to the Israelis to choose the right path.

I honestly wish you were right in saying I'm wrong. The evident reality, sadly, points to quite the opposite. For example, only you seem to believe in a "viable Palestinian state..." obviously unaware that the ever-expanding illegal settlements have created "facts on the ground" (to borrow an odious phrase), set in concrete and steel(quite literally) and protected by one of the most powerful military forces on the planet, and supported by the world's remaining superpower. Only a deluded optimist can imagine a "viable Palestinian state..." emerging from that.

BTW: I never said the Western media was controlled by Jews, not least because the facts simply don't support that lazy conspiracy theory. What I said is in black and white, and I challenge you to apologize for distorting it in such a grotesque manner.

You are entitled to what you may or may not honestly wish.You have wronged when you attacked me personally in your post by saying that I need help for believing that there is a difference between one Israeli ruler and another even though I did not express such views in my post.You have simply assumed it.I clearly said how the peace process can be restarted.You have every right to disagree with it.And for doing so,I would not suggest that you need help.
You have also found fault in my mentioning the term 'a viable Palestinian State'. Here,you have wronged again by calling me 'a deluded optimist' which I am not.May I take this opportunity to request you to refrain yourself from calling other people names?
My position on a viable Palestinian State is very clear.It has nothing to do with the ground realities that have been created by Israel by applying brutal military force.Israel must withdraw to its 1967 borders dismantling its illegal settlements without any reservation what so ever.The State of Palestine must be equally powerful like Israel economically, militarily as well as otherwise for fending of future Israeli attacks.Unless this happens,peace will never return to middle east.
As regards to the Western Media.
Nothing has been distorted in this respect.I believe that as most of the Western Media is owned by the Jewish people,they do not need to manipulate the media as Israel is one hundred percent sure about such media supports right or wrong.I have not stated anywhere that you have said that the Western Media is controlled by the Jews.Read the post again and find out the truth.Be rest assured that I do not like to put my words into someone's mouths as you have wrongly done on this issue.

You clearly are someone who won't let facts stand in the way of your beliefs.

First, you clearly believe the malicious conspiracy theories about supposed Jewish control of the global media even though the easily-verifiable facts don't support it. But more importantly (from my perspective), such beliefs do not entitle you to distort what I wrote in such a fundamental way, at any rate. You are certainly entitled to hold those beliefs, but have no right to distort what I wrote to suit them.

Secondly, in regard to Palestine, only you and the corrupt, clueless and pathetic Palestinian "leadership" in Ramallah still believe in "the peace process" and the possibility of a Palestinian homeland. To that I can only say, dream on and goodbye. And only respond to this if you are willing to be guided by basic facts, not wild beliefs and fantasies.

Like the warmonger and bloodthirsty Netanyahu,people like you are bent upon to destroy Israel by fighting useless wars which is bound to end unfavorably for the Israelis in the long run.It is high time for the Israelis who want to live peacefully with the neighbors practicing other faiths side by side,irrespective of party affiliations,to unite and deny Netanyahu another term.The recent defeat of Israel in the UNGA vote should open your eyes.Israel could master only nine votes against the resolution,out of which,four are tiny island nations!Israel along with its protectors,stand complete isolated now!!

If you can't tell the difference between a largely meaningless, utterly tokenistic General Assembly declaration on the one hand, and the practical impossibility of establishing a Palestinian state on the other, I'm afraid I can't help you further. Also, if Israel has already ignored several Security Council resolutions on the matter, I wonder why you believe it will take any notice of the pointless talking shop called the General Assembly. Indeed, you seem unaware that it has announced, in response, the further expansion of settlement activities and withheld taxes meant for even their poodle regime in Ramallah. So, again, dream on.

Furthermore, if you believe that the illegal settlements only started with Netanyahu (and will end with his regime), you have no knowledge of Israel's (post-1948) history, nor do you have any basic understanding of what the Zionist project is about.

I like optimists, and consider myself as one. But there's a whole world of difference between being optimistic and indulging in wild, fact-averse fantasies.

You are not an optimist.You can never be one because you are nothing but an apathetic.Anyway,will you come forward to say what is the course open for the Palestinians to follow now for reaching the goal?You consider others,specially those who disagree with you,as not knowledgeable as well as not well informed like you.What a pity!Lastly,be informed for a change that nothing is impossible in this planet.

The solution to the Palestinian problem is a one-state solution, including the right of return for those so cruelly displaced so many years ago. Agreed, the latter may not be a practical possibility, either because the victims may have died in foreign refugee camps or, having already settled abroad, might prefer financial compensation instead. But it is the principle that matters here.

As for a one-state solution, that, in fact, is what is emerging on the ground, literally. The Jews and the Palestinians are, after all, one people who, before the murderous gangsters' arrival from Eastern Europe following WW2, were living in perfect harmony with each other in the region. By effectively annexing the tiny strips of land that we now call Palestine, Israel has effectively created a single state - in effect a return to the pre-1948 situation. This being the case, the only thing we owe the Palestinian people is to ensure that they are not treated as second-class citizens in this new entity which you might call Israel-Palestine. That's the only realistic solution.

Now you have finally spoken up.I appreciate your courage.I have no problem with your views even though I don't know as yet whether you are a Israeli or a Palestinian.As mentioned before,I believe in peaceful coexistence.I have seen the plight of the Palestinian people.The European countries,mostly Eastern Europeans and the Russians,duly supported by the Americans,got rid of their unwanted Jewish citizens,whom you call murderous gangsters,are the main supporters of the bloodthirsty Israeli leaders now ruling Israel.The Israelis must find a way to elect new leaders for bringing back the desired peace for all.

I am neither Palestinian nor Jewish, and am not even from the region, however broadly defined. I'm just a concerned global citizen who has a visceral aversion to atrocious injustices of the kind that Israel routinely inflicts on these helpless people.

It might also surprise you to learn that I am a victim of what we now call Islamofascism, and am therefore not a friend of the likes of Hamas, etc (and I realize that Palestinians are not all Muslims). Indeed, I have wondered on these same pages why Muslims never express any outrage when their fellow Muslims have perpetuated unspeakable atrocities either against themselves or those, like me, whom they consider "infidels." The examples abound: The Darfur genocide, the murderous persecution of Christians in places like Iraq, Pakistan, Indonesia, northern Nigeria, etc. But I will never allow my justified and very deep dislike of Islamism (even in its supposedly mild form) to becloud my judgement in these matters.